Synthesis, Characterization, and Multifunctional Bioactivity of ZnO/CuO@Amoxicillin Nanocomposites: A Synergistic Nano‐Platform With Potent Antioxidant, Anti‐Inflammatory, Antidiabetic, and Anti‐Cholinesterase Activities

Abstract

ABSTRACT A ZnO/CuO@amoxicillin nanocomposite was synthesized via a sol–gel route and characterized as a biphasic wurtzite ZnO–monoclinic CuO system with crystallite sizes of about 10–12 nm and an optical band gap of 3.30–3.36 eV, indicating defect‐rich interfaces favorable for redox activity. In antidiabetic assays, the nanocomposite showed strong inhibitory effects on alpha‐amylase (IC 50 = 21.57 ± 1.68 mg/mL) and alpha‐glucosidase (IC 50 = 13.95 ± 0.76 mg/mL), with activities comparable to acarbose, while anti‐inflammatory tests yielded low IC 50 values of 0.22 ± 0.03 mg/mL for egg albumin denaturation and 0.34 ± 0.07 mg/mL for human serum albumin, approaching the performance of diclofenac. Antioxidant performance was outstanding, with total antioxidant capacity of 298.27 ± 4.70 mg ascorbic acid equivalents per gram and ferric reducing antioxidant power of 311.67 ± 2.53 mM Fe 2 + /g, both higher than ascorbic acid, alongside efficient hydrogen peroxide scavenging (IC 50 = 0.16 ± 0.04 mg/mL) and protection against H 2 O 2 /FeCl 3 ‐induced hemolysis at an IC 50 of 0.007 ± 0.00 mg/mL; together with moderate but significant acetylcholinesterase inhibition (IC 50 = 33.16 ± 3.02 mg/mL vs. 21.80 ± 2.74 mg/mL for donepezil), these results support ZnO/CuO@amoxicillin as a multifunctional nano‐platform for managing oxidative stress, inflammation, and metabolic disorders.